The Best Of PA

So alright the family date really turned into a Mommy Daughter date, because we are visiting the Cooper grandparents this week and we watched our friends kids last night.  So what was I to do-skip the family date?  I think not, and since Danny pretty much experienced the 50's in his Micro Date, I figured he would be okay with this.  So wanna have a 50's date with your kids?  Okay lets get started then. 1) Play Hopscotch-okay I'm not really sure if this was a 50's thing-but it's fun so I figured we should play it.  For Inside Hopscotch use some masking tape, electrical tape, or what ever colorful tape you have on hand.  Obviously you can do this outside with chalk, like I had to mention this. ;-) I know, I know, probably too many pictures, but can you blame me?  They are adorable right? 1) Play Clothespin in the Bottle-Again!  This time the bottle was just a a wee bit closer...or a lot closer.  It didn't matter because e...

So I thought it would be fun to throw a fifties party-no wait, I mean date, well same thing practically!  Right?!?  And since I was staying within a theme I had to make dinner too!  Wanna have yourself a 50's date?  Here's how. 1) Make a "Diner" Dinner: We had bacon cheeseburgers with regular and sweet potato fries, aspargus-yes I know not very diner-ish, and mystery soup. A milkshake bouquet, yummy Table Set with a Little Invitation for Danny I have a link for free print ups I used. Danny is enjoying his delish greasy meal One Bacon Cheeseburger with fries and aspargus, coming right up!  Also put in some sweet potato fries cuz I love them.   2) Once the kiddies are off to bed, begin the date with a lil game.  We played clothespin in the bottle-okay mason jar, which is very tricky might I add.  2) 50's has a bunch of great sweets, like candy buttons.  So we wrote love messages-not so origional love messag...

Grandma Cooper, Elly, Me-Danielle, and Aunt Betty at Cabela's a few weeks ago. Where does on go when they are craving cake and ice-cream?   Who do you visit when you want to be artsy and whip up some crafts?   What help can you seek for painting finger nails and weaving french braids?   For Elly, that someone is Grandma Cooper.   Trips to the movies, outings to the store for a fancy little girl's dress, visits to McDonalds are all anticipated when Elly spends a weekend at Grandma Coopers.   When they are not out and about receiving little girl manicures and munching on chicken nuggets they are home at Grandma Cooper’s possibly flying high on the front porch swing, playing Barbie Dolls, making crafts or feeding the chickens-yes the Cooper Grandparents have chickens.   Tearing sheets off the water bed and jumping on it is simply common place.   Watching Wonder Pets and singing at the top of your lungs with Grandma is expected.   Helping with ba...

Some cutesty lines for you today, brought to you by Ellyanna: Quote 1 “The boy got a gift.”   Ellyanna read out loud.   “Very good.”   I chimed, proud of my little girl who can read small sentences.   That is, the sentences and words we review every night after bath time.   She beamed with pride and then her little forehead proceeded to scrunch up as she pointed at the flash card.   “Why is there a polka dot there?”     Baffled I glimpsed at the card in my hand.   Polka dot?   What polka dot?   Oh…she meant the period. “Well that is called a period, and this goes at the end of every sentence.”   Her brows furrowed and she said. “But why is there a polka dot there?”   Maybe this explanation was a bit advanced for a four year old.   Any ideas on how to explain this?   Think it over and share with me.   Quote 2 “What you gonna do with all that junk? ...

We had a Micro Family Date last night-Red Riding Hood Style.  How does one have a Red Riding Hood Date?  I shall tell you.   1) Place a blanket on the floor like your having a picnic and proceed to read the story of Little Red Riding Hood.  Use funny voices for each character and explain things to your child.  Elly asked me "Oh the wolf talks??"  I explained that yes in this story he does indeed. 2)  Little Red Riding Hood did not stay on the path.  So we had a little game, a  Stay on the Path Activity, aka walk on the stick without falling. 3) Picking Flowers and Finding them-I printed up pictures of flower and taped them up, and hid them in the girls bedroom. 4) Coloring and Questions.  We found our flowers, then it was time to color them.  It was also time to review the story and ask "what if" questions.  Questions like "What if Little Red Riding Hood didn't pick flowers and stayed on the pat...

Table for two please! The real deal, yummy!! Hey There!  Well, we missed a Micro date last week, but  we made up for it with TWO dates this week- both involving food.  With all this crazy planning and preparing for eclectic dates I was feeling a bit burnt out-so we did something easy this week.  Simply put, we held off on supper till after the kids went to sleep and Danny arrived from school.  Yes I whipped up a delectable and healthy meal for two.  A concoction I created (Cut up chicken, garlic, a table spoon of dry salsa mix,  cannelini beans, diced tomatoes, asparagus, chopped peppers and mushrooms)  I don't mean to brag or anything but it was delicious!!  The perfect relaxing setting to chat away and catch up.  It just goes to show that you don't need extravagant themes and games to make a date special.  Simple can be refreshing and enjoyable too.  I could literally eat this eveyday-wonderfully de...

My two little mess makers Here’s the truth.   I’m dirty.   As in my house is always dirty; in result of me never cleaning it.   You may walk into my home in the morning and find dishes filling the sink, a kitchen table covered in remnants of last night’s supper and the floor in good need of a sweep and wash.   Gross right?   I know I think this very thing when the sun peaks through the clouds and I trudge downstairs to witness the mountainous slop of work.   The dishwasher (me) was not on duty, when she most certainly should have been. Yes she may look innocent, but the proof is in the mess!   I know it’s important to have an organized and clean home- in fact I enjoy being in shining orderly houses.    They smell good, the floors are spotless, the counter tops glitter, everything is in its place.   Oh it such a refreshing and comfortable thing.   I mean you can’t help but be at ease when sitting in someone’s bright, immaculat...

The Super Star Elly Typically the phrases and conversations Elly has with her friends and adults melt your heart. "I like princesses and strawberry short cake!"  She told a little boy in the park the other day.  And there other times that you like to pretend she never said. "I don't like you anymore!  Your a bad mom!"  And then there are the sort of embarressing yet entertaining and innocent stories like this one that happened yesterday: "That girls immodest mommy". Elly pointed at the lady in front of us walking her dogs. She was in her workout garb, black long spandex shorts and a teal tank top. Elly was referring to the womans' shoulders showing. "Mommy that girls' immodest.". She repeated, this time the words rang through the air even louder. "uh huh.". I said as quietly as I could. I taught my daughter about modesty at a young age and am ever so grateful she listens to me, but now I was a bit embarressed. ...